Asset allocation is a time-tested strategy that can help take the guesswork out of choosing investments for your portfolio. Instead of putting all your eggs in one basket, you spread your eggs (dollars) among a variety of baskets (stocks, bonds and cash). The baskets can be further divided within each type of investment.

I’ll be honest. I don’t pay my bills online. I don’t have a debit card. I don’t know how to check my bank balance using the World Wide Web.

Other than years of habit using stamps and envelopes, I have no idea why I evidently continue to presume the U.S. Postal Service is more reliable and secure than the Internet. I’m open to being persuaded otherwise. Ruston’s Department of Light and Power might just be the folks to win me over.

DEAR ABBY: I have a tattoo on my forearm. It's my deceased son's name, with angel's wings and a halo. Because of where it's placed on my arm, I wear long sleeves or three-quarter sleeves to work. If I feel it might "peek out," I wear an Ace bandage over it.

I am a bank branch manager and I'm sometimes asked, "What happened to your arm?" when the bandage can be seen. I feel telling the person I have a tattoo defeats the whole purpose of keeping it covered, and I don't want to lie. What is the proper response?